For full article see previous entry
in wordconnect.org or click here
Seeking ministry from the dead: Deut 18; 10, 11, “There shall
not be found among you...a consulter with familiar spirits” (KJV).
Bob Jones has claimed very publically that the spirit of a deceased Indian
monk, Sundar Singh, has appeared and ministered to him many times. He
has also introduced Todd Bentley to this spirit. 1 Jn 4; 1 tells us “do
not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God”.
So is this spirit sent from God or a deceiving spirit sent by the devil?
So is this Christianity or spiritualism?
Concerning Angelic encounters: In “Angelic Hosts 2003” Bentley
writes “Bob...told me that Emma was the angel that helped birth
and start the whole prophetic movement in Kansas City in the 1980’s...she
floated a couple of inches off the floor. It was almost like Kathryn
Kuhlman in those old videos”. Does this sound like the angels
described in the bible? As 2 Cor 11; 14 tells us that “Satan...
transforms himself into an angel of light” we must ask - have
Bentley and Jones been experiencing angels sent from God or fallen
angels?
Deceased Christians becoming angels: The “God Channel” promoted
a conference this May called “Honouring the Mothers” to
celebrate Mothers Day. This occasion focused on honouring Christian
lady ministers who have in died the past, e.g. Kathryn Kuhlman. What
many people don’t realise though is that the two main leaders
behind these meetings believe that we should be seeking ministry
from the spirits of these deceased Christian women, who they believe
return to earth as angels.
This is identical to the beliefs of Jones and Bentley who seek ministry
from the spirits of Sundar Singh and Emma. The two leaders I’m
referring to here are Rick Joyner and Gwen Shaw. Is this a coincidence
or is Mothers Day being used by Joyner and Gwen to subtly introduce such
beliefs into the church? And if so do they realise that this is identical
to the practice of spiritualism which is forbidden in the bible?
Spreading these ideas: It is clear from his book “The Final
Quest” that Rick Joyner believes he is called to convert the
rest of the church to these beliefs. He even claims that it is the
dead returning to earth as angelic beings, (great white eagles),
that will enable him to do this. Joyner states that he will command
these spirits of the dead into spiritual warfare against other Christians
to cause them to yield and start accepting Joyner’s leadership
and spiritual practices, (see p’s 16, 17, 22, and 65). Some
think that that is extremely controlling.
Receiving messages from
the dead: Both Todd Bentley and Rick
Joyner claim to visit heaven
during their visionary experiences and whilst
there believe they receive prophetic messages from the Apostle Paul.
In “The Final Quest” Joyner even claims that “St
Paul” told him that the N/T Apostles had failed in their callings
and that we should not trust the parts of the bible written
by them, (see p’s 133-135). But don’t genuine prophetic messages
always agree with the bible and come directly from the Holy Spirit
not through departed saints? So is this of Gods Spirit or have these
ministries been deceived by false visions from an occult spirit?
Another
spirit: Most of us are aware that there is an alternative
spirituality to Gods Holy Spirit. Those involved in the occult move
in a form of words of knowledge, predictions, occult reiki healings
and miracles and also experience spirits claiming to be angels or
the dead returning to earth. New Agers are not moving in the Holy
Spirit though but are being led astray by occult spirits. 2 Thess
2; 9 warns us that before Christ return “the working of
Satan” will
increase “with all power, signs, and lying wonders” so
many Christians could get deceived too.
Is occult power real today? Acts 8: 9 -11
gives us a church age example; “Simon... practiced sorcery
in the city and astonished the people” who said “This
man is the great power of God”...”And they heeded him
because he had astonished them with his sorceries”. In
Ex Ch 7 of the Old Testament we also read how Pharaohs magicians
were even able to duplicate several
of the great miracles of Moses. And the Book of Revelation says that
at the end of this age the false prophet “performs great signs,
so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in
the sight of men”, and that “he deceives those who dwell
on the earth by those signs”, (Rev Ch 13: 13, 14). As
2 Thess 2; 3 warn us of a “falling away” of
believers we surely need to be very careful. Deceiving spirits could
be passed
on to
us by reading books, or by the laying on of hands, by deceived Christians
who are moving in such influences themselves, (see
video e.g. of this)
A counterfeit gifting; In a video on Todd Bentleys
own website (which has since been removed unfortunately, like most
of his controversial
videos), Bentley preached – I don’t move in the gifts
of the Spirit… the gifts have to be initiated by the Holy Spirit…I
move in the seven spirits of God instead…this gives you the
whole council of God. He claims he can switch this gifting on and
off at will. Derek Prince, wrote; “Today I tremble inwardly
when I see or hear of a person who claims that he has spiritual gifts
which he is free to use just as he pleases. It is surely no accident
that some of those who have made such claims have ended in serious
doctrinal error”, taken from “Protection
from Deception”,
Derek Prince, 1996.
Visions from God or the demonic? Even Mike
Bickle, the pastor of this Kansas group, originally thought that
Bob Jones visions were
coming from a demon. Jones experienced up to a dozen multicoloured
visions a night which first started whilst he was an inpatient in
a mental hospital. However Bickle then started experiencing similar
things himself. We know though that demonic influences can be transferred
by close contact between people so is that what happened here? Bickle
now runs the International House of Prayer, (IHOP),
set up after another prophecy from Bob Jones, through this the Kansas
City Prophets
are now influencing many intercession ministries. The “World
Prayer Centre” in the UK now broadcasts these IHOP meetings
in their own prayer room. As this is spreading these ministries need
to be weighed up as a matter of urgency.
False predictions: This
Kansas group have also made many false predictions. For e.g. in 1990 Paul Cain along
with several of these other “prophets” predicted
that a great global revival would start in the UK that year and be
led John Wimber – nothing happened. Bob Jones prophesised
only last year that Todd Bentley was about to start
a global 3rd wave revival on the 08.08.08 which turned out to be
the time that Bentley
was exposed for adultery instead and was forced stepped down from
ministry.
False teaching: There’s not room to study this
here but if you go online you can check and see that most of the Kansas
prophets
new visionary “revelations” and “teachings” usually
contradict the bible. For e.g. in “The Final Quest” (p.
128), Joyner states that God will raise up prophet judges,
(including himself), to rule over the church in the end times. Others
have promoted
the “Manifests Sons of God” teaching, which states that
some believers will receive their resurrection bodies and rule in
this age before the return of Christ. 1 Tim 4; 1 warns us that many
Christians will start “giving heed to deceiving spirits and
doctrines of demons", so are these ministries receiving
counterfeit visions and false teachings from occult spirits? And
was it wise
for the “God Channel” to ask Mike Bickle and Rick Joyner
to lead teaching on the end times only last April?
Bad fruit: Way
back in 1991, just after John Wimber had taken the Kansas City prophets
under his wing, he had to discipline several
members who were found to be involved in sexual immorality. Then
their leading prophet, Bob Jones, had to step down
from ministry for a long season after he admitted using his spiritual
gifts to
manipulate and solicit sexual favours from women in his congregation.
More recently there was Paul Cain’s homosexual
activity and Todd Bentley’s adultery. God
forgives but Matt 7; 16 also states that “You will know them by their
fruits”. So is it wise
for the “God Channel “to keep drawing from this group?
Other ministries: In
Matt 24.24 Jesus warned us that deception would increase towards
the end of this age “to deceive, if possible,
even the elect”, (that’s us), and 2 Thess 2: 3 predicts
a great apostasy and “falling away” of believers
from the faith. So is this what is starting to occur today? Many
ministries
are suddenly reporting a new type of spiritual anointing coming upon
them, indeed this is also claimed by Wendy Alec. I believe God will
be moving more powerfully in the end times but are the things described
above from God or the deceptions the bible warns us about? Surely
we need to test all such claims?
An e.g: Barbie Breathitt,
a Christian lady, who claims to be “a
professional dream interpreter”, said in an interview, (on
Sid Roths “Its Supernatural” TV program on Aug 11-17,
2008), that she has been moving in a different type of spiritual
anointing since she started going to occult festivals. She reports
that she dresses up as a New Ager, rents booths alongside those that
the witches use, and interprets dreams for people involved in the
occult. The interview ends with an advert selling her dream interpretation
kit to Christians for $20 each. We should be testing such claims
with the gift of “discerning of spirits”, (1
Cor 12: 10). Has she mistakenly opened up to, and started moving
in, the
New Age /occult anointing herself? (link
to transcript).
Other areas of deception: The
interview above was also being promoted on the “Elijah List” by
Steve Shultz. He’s another
well intentioned Christian with much influence but who also lacks
discernment. Like the Alecs’ Shultz also chose Paul Cain as
a spiritual adviser whilst Cain was engaged in his secret homosexual
lifestyle. Shultz also promoted Bentley last year, believing everything
Bentley said without appearing to test anything. I feel led to finish
here by drawing attention to Patricia King’s ministry
and her interest in gold dust and the pursuit of angels. I believe
in angels
too but focusing on them instead of the Lord can open one up to experiencing
fallen angels instead. I believe the Christian media will soon be
promoting many deceived Christian ministries and a flood of their
deceptive encounters with fallen angels + many waves of deception.
Conclusion: Each person must decide for themselves
but we should surely consider Matt 24:24 which tell’s us that towards the
end of this age “false prophets will rise and show great signs
and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect”.
1 Jn 2: 19 tells us that “They went out from us, but they were not
of us” implying that many of these people will start out
from within the church as “Christians”. So are false prophets
now starting to emerge amongst us? Or should we just be praying for
these people as any one of us can get deceived? The saying “but
for the grace of God there go I” is always very poignant. One
thing is for certain - we cannot trust the “God Channel” or
the Christian media to decide for us, so we must each test these
things for ourselves with discernment, in prayer, and against scripture
just as the bible has always taught.
May God bless you, (any prayer
support for posting out this article is greatly appreciated).
S. Dobbs, updated 2nd July 2009. All scriptures
were taken from the N.K.J.V.
For prophecies which relate to this and other issues
try www.propheciesfortoday.uk.com
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